Intimate partner violence (IPV) is often considered a unidirectional phenomenon even though historical debate has highlighted the prevalence of bidirectional IPV, where both partners in a couple use and experience IPV. Dyadic data, in which both partners report on IPV, is important because agreement in partner reports of IPV is low. This scoping review aimed to identify rates of bidirectional IPV and examined how different methods of reporting bidirectional IPV impacted rates in studies using dyadic data. Systematic database searches were conducted, and studies were reviewed for the following inclusion criteria: (a) adults over the age of 18; (b) reported rates of bidirectional IPV or provided data that would allow for calculation of bidirectional IPV in the sample; (c) used dyadic data; (d) was published in a peer-reviewed journal; and (e) a United States sample. Rates of bidirectional IPV varied significantly across the 34 studies with rates ranging from 10.0% to 96.6% (median = 35.0%). There was significant variability across studies in instrumentation, definition of bidirectional IPV, and type of sample, making cross-study comparison difficult. Most studies reported the presence of bidirectional IPV if either partner reported IPV use (i.e., perpetration) or experience (i.e., victimization), and if partners disagreed, the higher or positive score was used. Bidirectional IPV rates derived from this method ranged from 10% to 80% which may be an overrepresentation of bidirectional IPV. Further research is needed to inform the ideal method for defining bidirectional IPV, especially when partners do not agree in their reports of IPV.
Al-ModallalH.MudallalR.AbujilbanS.HamaidehS.MrayanL. (2020). Physical violence in college women: Psychometric evaluation of the safe dates-physical violence victimization scale. Health Care for Women International, 41(8), 949–964.
2.
AndersonE. J.KrauseK. C.Meyer KrauseC.WelterA.McClellandD. J.GarciaD. O.ErnstK.LopezE. C.KossM. P. (2021). Web-based and mHealth interventions for intimate partner violence victimization prevention: A systematic review. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 22(4), 870–884.
3.
BabcockJ. C.SneadA. L.BennettV. E.ArmentiN. A. (2019). Distinguishing subtypes of mutual violence in the context of self-defense: Classifying types of partner violent couples using a modified conflict tactics scale. Journal of Family Violence, 34, 687–696.
4.
BartholomewK.CobbR. J. (2010). Conceptualizing relationship violence as a dyadic process. In HorowitzL. M.StrackS. (Eds.), Handbook of interpersonal psychology: Theory, research, assessment, and therapeutic interventions (pp. 233–248).
5.
BatesE. A. (2016). Current controversies within intimate partner violence: Overlooking bidirectional violence. Journal of Family Violence, 31, 937–940.
6.
BeckC. J.AndersonE. R.O’HaraK. L.BenjaminG. A. H. (2013a). Patterns of intimate partner violence in a large, epidemiological sample of divorcing couples. Journal of Family Psychology, 27(5), 743–753.
7.
BeckC. J.MenkeJ. M.FigueredoA. J. (2013b). Validation of a measure of intimate partner abuse (Relationship Behavior Rating Scale–Revised) using item response theory analysis. Journal of Divorce & Remarriage, 54(1), 58–77.
8.
BellK. M.NaugleA. E. (2008). Intimate partner violence theoretical considerations: Moving towards a contextual framework. Clinical Psychology Review, 28(7), 1096–1107.
9.
BradleyR. P. C.DrummeyK.GottmanJ. M.GottmanJ. S. (2014). Treating couples who mutually exhibit violence or aggression: Reducing behaviors that show a susceptibility for violence. Journal of Family Violence, 29, 549–558.
10.
BresinK.ParrottD. J.SubramaniO. S.EckhardtC. I. (2020). Alcohol-related relationship dissatisfaction: A putative mechanism for intimate partner aggression. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 34(7), 793.
11.
CaetanoR.FieldC.Ramisetty-MiklerS.LipskyS. (2009). Agreement on reporting of physical, psychological, and sexual violence among white, black, and Hispanic couples in the United States. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 24(8), 1318–1337.
12.
CapinhaM.RijoD.MatosM.PereiraM. (2024). Interpartner agreement on intimate partner violence reports: Evidence from a community sample of different-sex couples. Assessment, 31(5), 980–993. https:doi.org/10.1177/10731911231196483
13.
ChartierK. G.CaetanoR. (2012). Intimate partner violence and alcohol problems in interethnic and intraethnic couples. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 27(9), 1780–1801.
14.
ClareC. A.VelasquezG.MartorellG. M. M.FernandezD.DinhJ.MontagueA. (2021). Risk factors for male perpetration of intimate partner violence: A review. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 56, 101532.
15.
CohenS.SchulzM. S.LiuS. R.HalassaM.WaldingerR. J. (2015). Empathic accuracy and aggression in couples: Individual and dyadic links. Journal of Marriage and Family, 77(3), 697–711.
16.
CraneC. A.TestaM. (2014). Daily associations among anger experience and intimate partner aggression within aggressive and nonaggressive community couples. Emotion, 14(5), 985.
17.
CunradiC. B.AmesG. M.DukeM. (2011). The relationship of alcohol problems to the risk for unidirectional and bidirectional intimate partner violence among a sample of blue-collar couples. Violence and Victims, 26(2), 147–158.
18.
DavidsonR. D.BeckC. J. (2017). Using couple-level patterns of intimate partner violence to predict divorce outcomes. Psychology, Public Policy, and Law, 23(1), 85.
19.
DerrickJ. L.TestaM. (2017). Temporal effects of perpetrating or receiving intimate partner aggression on alcohol consumption: A daily diary study of community couples. Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, 78(2), 213–221.
20.
DesmaraisS. L.ReevesK. A.NichollsT. L.TelfordR. P.FiebertM. S. (2012). Prevalence of physical violence in intimate relationships, part 2: Rates of male and female perpetration. Partner Abuse, 3(2), 170–198.
21.
DichterM. E.CerulliC.BossarteR. M. (2011). Intimate partner violence victimization among women veterans and associated heart health risks. Women’s Health Issues, 21(4 Suppl), S190–S194.
22.
DobashR. E.DobashR. (1979). Violence against wives: A case against the patriarchy (Vol. 15). Free Press New York.
23.
DoucetteH.CollibeeC.HoodE.Gittins StoneD. I.DeJesusB.RizzoC. J. (2021). Perpetration of electronic intrusiveness among adolescent females: Associations with in-person dating violence. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 36(11–12), NP6581–NP6601.
24.
EvansM.LindauerM.FarrellM. (2020). A pandemic within a pandemic—Intimate partner violence during Covid-19. New England Journal of Medicine, 383(24), 2302–2304.
25.
GayleB. M.PreissR. W. (2002). An overview of dyadic processes in interpersonal communication. In AllenM.PreissR. W.GayleB. M.BurrellN. (Eds.), Interpersonal communication research: Advances through meta-analysis (pp. 111–124). Routledge.
26.
Goddard-EckrichD.GilbertL.RicherA.ChangM.HuntT.HendersonA.MarottaP.WuE.JohnsonK.MosesH. (2023). Moderation analysis of a couple-based HIV/STI intervention among heterosexual couples in the criminal legal system experiencing IPV: Results from a randomized controlled trial. AIDS and Behavior, 27(5), 1653–1665.
27.
GrahamL. M.EmbryV.YoungB.-R.MacyR.MoraccoK.ReyesH.MartinS. (2021). Evaluations of prevention programs for sexual, dating, and IPV for boys and men: Systematic review. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 22(3), 439–465.
28.
GromJ. L.CraneC.LeoneR. M.ParrottD. J.EckhardtC. (2021). Sexual violence perpetration within intimate relationships: An I3 model analysis of the effects of sexual violence victimization and psychological flexibility. Sexual Abuse, 33(1), 114–132.
29.
HaddawayN.GraingerM.GrayC. (2021). citationchaser: An R package and Shiny app for forward and backward citations chasing in academic searching. Zenodo.
30.
HammettJ. F.KarneyB. R.BradburyT. N. (2020). Adverse childhood experiences, stress, and intimate partner violence among newlywed couples living with low incomes. Journal of Family Psychology, 34(4), 436.
31.
HardestyJ. L.OgolskyB. G. (2020). A socioecological perspective on intimate partner violence research: A decade in review. Journal of Marriage and Family, 82(1), 454–477.
32.
Holtzworth-MunroeA.MeehanJ. C. (2004). Typologies of men who are maritally violent: Scientific and clinical implications. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 19(12), 1369–1389.
33.
HuR.XueJ.LinK.SunI. Y.WangX. (2021). Bidirectional intimate partner violence among Chinese women: Patterns and risk factors. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 36(21–22), NP12252–NP12278. https:doi.org/10.1177/0886260519888523
34.
JohnsonM. P. (1995). Patriarchal terrorism and common couple violence: Two forms of violence against women. Journal of Marriage and Family, 57(2), 283–294.
35.
KarH. L.O’LearyK. D. (2013). Patterns of psychological aggression, dominance, and jealousy within marriage. Journal of Family Violence, 28, 109–119.
36.
KarakurtG.KoçE.KattaP.JonesN.BolenS. D. (2022). Treatments for female victims of intimate partner violence: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 793021.
37.
KatafiaszH.PattonR.GeorkeJ.DragomirR.FyeJ. (2020). A dyadic examination of individual symptomology and relational functioning within the context of IPV. Contemporary Family Therapy, 42, 250–258.
38.
KwanJ.SparrowK.Facer-IrwinE.ThandiG.FearN.MacManusD. (2020). Prevalence of intimate partner violence perpetration among military populations: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 53, 101419.
39.
LagdonS.ArmourC.StringerM. (2014). Adult experience of mental health outcomes as a result of intimate partner violence victimisation: A systematic review. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 5(1), 24794.
40.
Langhinrichsen-RohlingJ.MisraT. A.SelwynC.RohlingM. L. (2012). Rates of bidirectional versus unidirectional intimate partner violence across samples, sexual orientations, and race/ethnicities: Comprehensive review. Partner Abuse, 3(2), 199–230.
41.
LantagneA.FurmanW. (2020). More than the sum of two partners: A dyadic perspective on young adult physical dating aggression. Psychology of Violence, 10(4), 379.
42.
LausiG.PizzoA.CricentiC.BaldiM.DesiderioR.GianniniA. M.MariE. (2021). Intimate partner violence during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A review of the phenomenon from victims’ and help professionals’ perspectives. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(12), 6204.
43.
LeemisR. W.FriarN.KhatiwadaS.ChenM. S.KresnowM.-j.SmithS. G.CaslinS.BasileK. C. (2022). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey: 2016/2017 Report on Intimate Partner Violence. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
44.
LeisringP. A.GrigorianH. L. (2016). Self-defense, retaliation, and gender: Clarifying motivations for physical partner violence. Journal of Family Violence, 31, 949–953.
45.
LeonardK. E.WintersJ. J.Kearns-BodkinJ. N.HomishG. G.KubiakA. J. (2014). Dyadic patterns of intimate partner violence in early marriage. Psychology of Violence, 4(4), 384.
46.
LeoneR. M.CraneC. A.ParrottD. J.EckhardtC. I. (2016). Problematic drinking, impulsivity, and physical IPV perpetration: A dyadic analysis. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 30(3), 356.
47.
LiX.CaoH.ZhouN.Mills-KoonceR. (2021). Internalized homophobia and relationship quality among same-sex couples: The mediating role of intimate partner violence. Journal of Homosexuality, 68(11), 1749–1773.
48.
LittD. M.RodriguezL. M. (2022). A dyadic examination of interpersonal electronic surveillance. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 25(8), 489–495.
49.
LowS.TiberioS. S.ShorttJ. W.CapaldiD. M.EddyJ. M. (2017). Associations of couples’ intimate partner violence in young adulthood and substance use: A dyadic approach. Psychology of Violence, 7(1), 120.
50.
MachadoA.SantosA.Graham-KevanN.MatosM. (2019). The prevalence of bi-directional intimate partner violence reported by Portuguese men. International Journal of Law, Crime and Justice, 57, 83–90.
51.
MachadoA.SousaC.CunhaO. (2024). Bidirectional violence in intimate relationships: A systematic review. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 25(2), 1680–1694. https:doi.org/10.1177/15248380231193440
52.
ManetaE.CohenS.SchulzM. S.WaldingerR. (2013). Two to tango: A dyadic analysis of links between borderline personality traits and intimate partner violence. Journal of Personality Disorders, 27(2), 233–243.
53.
MarcusR. F. (2012). Patterns of intimate partner violence in young adult couples: Nonviolent, unilaterally violent, and mutually violent couples. Violence and Victims, 27(3), 299–314.
54.
MarshallA. D.PanuzioJ.Makin-ByrdK. N.TaftC. T.Holtzworth-MunroeA. (2011). A multilevel examination of interpartner intimate partner violence and psychological aggression reporting concordance. Behavior Therapy, 42(3), 364–377.
55.
MateiA.MaricuțoiuL. P.VîrgăD. (2021). For better or for worse family-related well-being: A meta-analysis of crossover effects in dyadic studies. Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being, 13(2), 357–376.
56.
McGowanJ.SampsonM.SalzwedelD. M.CogoE.FoersterV.LefebvreC. (2016). PRESS peer review of electronic search strategies: 2015 guideline statement. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 75, 40–46.
57.
McKayT.TuellerS.LandwehrJ.JohnsonM. P. (2022). Types of partner violence in couples affected by incarceration: Applying Johnson’s typology to understand the couple-level context for violence. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 37(9–10), NP8056–NP8087.
58.
MojahedA.AlaidarousN.KoppM.PogarellA.ThielF.Garthus-NiegelS. (2021). Prevalence of intimate partner violence among intimate partners during the perinatal period: A narrative literature review. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 12, 601236.
59.
NealA. M.EdwardsK. M. (2019). Examining situations involving intimate partner aggression: A dyadic study of agreement on behaviors, attributions, and emotional effects. Psychology of Violence, 9(3), 288.
60.
NomaguchiK.JohnsonW. L.MinterM. D.AldrichL. (2017). Clarifying the association between mother–father relationship aggression and parenting. Journal of Marriage and Family, 79(1), 161–178.
61.
ParsonsA. M.HeymanR. E.MitnickD. M.SlepA. M. S. (2020). Intimate partner violence and child maltreatment: Definitions, prevalence, research, and theory through a cross-cultural lens. In HalfordW. K.Van de VijverF. (Eds.), Cross-cultural family research and practice (pp. 249–285). Academic Press.
62.
PattonR.KatafiaszH. (2021). Exploring alcohol use and IPV among couples presenting to couple therapy: A brief note. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 36(11–12), NP5772–NP5783 doi: 10.1177/0886260518807220
63.
PereiraM. E.AzeredoA.MoreiraD.BrandãoI.AlmeidaF. (2020). Personality characteristics of victims of intimate partner violence: A systematic review. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 52, 101423.
64.
PetersM. D. J.GodfreyC.McInerneyP.MunnZ.TriccoA.KhalilH. (2020). Chapter 11: Scoping Reviews. In AromatarisE.MunnZ. (Eds.), JBI manual for evidence synthesis. JBI.
65.
PuD. F.RodriguezC. M.DimperioM. D. (2022). Factors distinguishing reciprocal versus nonreciprocal intimate partner violence across time and reporter. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 37(15–16), NP13654–NP13684.
66.
RennerL. M.Schwab ReeseL. M.Peek-AsaC.RamirezM. (2015). Reporting patterns of unidirectional and bidirectional verbal aggression and physical violence among rural couples. Journal of Family Violence, 30, 1069–1078.
67.
Romero-MartínezÁ.LilaM.Sarrate-CostaC.Comes-FayosJ.Moya-AlbiolL. (2023). Neuropsychological performance, substance misuse, and recidivism in intimate partner violence perpetrators. Psychosocial Intervention, 32(2), 69–77.
68.
SenkansS.McEwanT.OgloffJ. (2020). Conceptualising IPV perpetrators’ cognition as aggressive relational schemas. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 55, 101456.
69.
SharmaA.KahleE.SullivanS.StephensonR. (2021). Sexual agreements and intimate partner violence among male couples in the US: An analysis of dyadic data. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 50, 1087–1105.
70.
ShepardM. F.CampbellJ. A. (1992). The Abusive Behavior Inventory: A measure of psychological and physical abuse. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 7(3), 291–305.
71.
SherinK. M.SinacoreJ. M.LiX.-Q.ZitterR. E.ShakilA. (1998). HITS: A short domestic violence screening tool for use in a family practice setting. Family Medicine, 30, 508–512.
72.
SchnurrM. P.MahatmyaD.Basche IIIR. A. (2013). The role of dominance, cyber aggression perpetration, and gender on emerging adults’ perpetration of intimate partner violence. Psychology of Violence, 3(1), 70.
73.
SommerJ.IyicanS.BabcockJ. (2019). The relation between contempt, anger, and IPV: A dyadic approach. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 34(15), 3059–3079.
74.
SpencerC. M.StithS. M.CafferkyB. (2019). Risk markers for physical intimate partner violence victimization: A meta-analysis. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 44, 8–17.
75.
SprungerJ. G.EckhardtC. I.ParrottD. J. (2015). Anger, problematic alcohol use, and intimate partner violence victimisation and perpetration. Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health, 25(4), 273–286.
76.
StephensonR.ChavandukaT. M.SullivanS.MitchellJ. W. (2022). Sexual agreements, substance use, binge drinking, and bidirectional physical intimate partner violence among male couples in the United States. Violence and Victims, 37(6), 783–798.
77.
StephensonR.SharmaA.MimiagaM.GarofaloR.BrownE.BratcherA.WimblyT.HidalgoM.HoehnleS.ThaiJ. (2019). Concordance in the reporting of intimate partner violence among male-male couples. Journal of Family Violence, 34, 677–686.
78.
StithS. M.SmithD. B.PennC. E.WardD. B.TrittD. (2004). Intimate partner physical abuse perpetration and victimization risk factors: A meta-analytic review. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 10(1), 65–98.
79.
StoverC. S.ShafaiA.KwinjoS. J.FarrenA. R.MazanyE.McFaulC. J. (2023). Agreement between mother and father reports of IPV in a sample of child protection referred coparents. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 38(3–4), 3489–3512.
80.
StoverC. S.TobonA. L.McFaulC.GorioM. C. F. (2022). A conceptual understanding of intimate partner violence behaviors in men: Implications for research and intervention. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 65, 101763.
81.
StrausM. A. (2015). Dyadic concordance and discordance in family violence: A powerful and practical approach to research and practice. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 24, 83–94.
82.
StrausM. A.HambyS. L.Boney-McCoyS.SugarmanD. B. (1996). The revised conflict tactics scales (CTS2) development and preliminary psychometric data. Journal of Family Issues, 17(3), 283–316. https:doi.org/10.1177/019251396017003001
83.
StubbsA.SzoekeC. (2022). The effect of intimate partner violence on the physical health and health-related behaviors of women: A systematic review of the literature. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 23(4), 1157–1172.
84.
SugiharaY.WarnerJ. A. (2002). Dominance and domestic abuse among Mexican Americans: Gender differences in the etiology of violence in intimate relationships. Journal of Family Violence, 17, 315–340.
85.
TaftC. T.WatkinsL. E.StaffordJ.StreetA. E.MonsonC. M. (2011). Posttraumatic stress disorder and intimate relationship problems: a meta-analysis. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 79(1), 22.
86.
TestaM.KubiakA.QuigleyB.HoustonR.DerrickJ.LevittA.HomishG.LeonardK. (2012). Husband and wife alcohol use as independent or interactive predictors of intimate partner violence. Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, 73(2), 268–276.
87.
TharpA. T.ShermanM. D.BowlingU.TownsendB. J. (2016). Intimate partner violence between male Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and their female partners who seek couples therapy. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 31(6), 1095–1115.
88.
TimmonsA. C.ArbelR.MargolinG. (2017). Daily patterns of stress and conflict in couples: Associations with marital aggression and family-of-origin aggression. Journal of Family Psychology, 31(1), 93.
89.
TolmanR. M. (1999). The validation of the Psychological Maltreatment of Women Inventory. Violence and Victims, 14(1), 25–37.
90.
TraversÁ.McDonaghT.CunninghamT.ArmourC.HansenM. (2021). The effectiveness of interventions to prevent recidivism in perpetrators of intimate partner violence: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology Review, 84, 101974.
91.
TriccoA. C.LillieE.ZarinW.O’BrienK. K.ColquhounH.LevacD.MoherD.PetersM. D.HorsleyT.WeeksL. (2018). PRISMA extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR): checklist and explanation. Annals of Internal Medicine, 169(7), 467–473.
92.
WalshA. R.StephensonR. (2023). Intimate partner violence perpetration denial and underreporting in cisgender male couples. Psychosocial Intervention, 32(2), 109–121.
93.
WojdaA.BaucomD.WeberD.HeymanR.SlepA. (2022). The role of IPVand relationship satisfaction in couples’ interpersonal emotional arousal. Journal of Family Psychology, 36(3), 385.
94.
WrayA.HoytT.GerstleM.LeitmanB. (2015). Examining IPV types in a diverse sample of court-referred parenting dyads. Journal of Child Custody, 12(3–4), 248–272.
95.
WrayA. M.HoytT.GerstleM. (2013). Preliminary examination of a mutual intimate partner violence intervention among treatment-mandated couples. Journal of Family Psychology, 27(4), 664.
96.
ZarkL.SatyenL. (2022). Cross-cultural differences in student attitudes toward intimate partner violence: A systematic review. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 23(3), 1007–1022.
Supplementary Material
Please find the following supplemental material available below.
For Open Access articles published under a Creative Commons License, all supplemental material carries the same license as the article it is associated with.
For non-Open Access articles published, all supplemental material carries a non-exclusive license, and permission requests for re-use of supplemental material or any part of supplemental material shall be sent directly to the copyright owner as specified in the copyright notice associated with the article.
